458 



Noiss on the Influence 



[No. 36, 



as the western ghats, but which cease almost immediately on quit- 

 ting those chains. The forests on the east coasl as might be expect- 

 ed, are less lofty and luxuriant than those in Malabar, not only 

 from the fall of rain on the east coast being only half that of Malabar, 

 but also because they are in general double the distance from the sea, 

 the chief source of all vapour. 



There can of course be little question as to the effect forests 

 must have during a great part of the year, in preventing the dis- 

 sipation of the superficial moisture, but I should doubt if that cir- 

 cumstance can have much influence on the supply of water from 

 springs. The effect of the sun's rays on the earth, even when fully 

 exposed to them, is sensible to but a very inconsiderable depth from 

 the surface, and not at all so far as the subsidence of the water form- 

 ing springs. The copiousness of springs must be influenced so 

 much by a variety of other causes, as to render the effect of forests 

 hardly appreciable. The vicinity to elevated table lands and moun- 

 tains and hills, the nature of the rocks, and inclination of the strata, 

 the general slope of the country, the absorbent qualities of the soil, 

 &:c. &c. must all have the most important influence. At Trevandrum, 

 even on eminences, the wells at a depth of 40 feet from the surface 

 rise occasionally several feet with a fall of rain of only the same 

 number of inches, and within two or three days after heavy falls. 



In the forests of this coast and above the ghats in the western 

 parts of Mysore, Wynaad, and Coorgh, the trees are I believe 

 every where nearly destitute of leaves, during the early part of the 

 year, the driest and the hottest season, so that, even in forest tracts, 

 the earth is at that period exposed to nearly the full force of the 

 sun's rays. 



The long grass and low jungle is also generally burnt down in 

 these months, and the general heat and dryness in passing through 

 such tracts are frequently intolerable. The almost entire absence 

 of moisture and springs in forest tracts in the dry season is well known. 



The district of Ernaad in Malabar, formerly so celebrated for 

 its teak forests, and still I believe with miich forest of other 

 kinds, is I believe for the most part a plain and nearly level, but 

 in the hot season is like the other tracts, I have noticed, equally 

 destitute of vegetation and moisture, and I speak of these facts 

 from, having, although many years ago, passed over all the tracts in 

 question. 



